That was Neal Cotts predicament on Friday when he couldn’t keep his cutter from staying too far inside on right-handed hitters, putting him behind in counts and making him come over the plate with fastballs.

And then he got Smoaked.

After entering the eighth inning with a one-run lead, Cotts failed to retire any of the five batters he faced on the way to the Rangers’ 6-5 loss to Seattle. The crowning blow: A 2-run double by Justin Smoak that gave Seattle the lead.

“I didn’t pitch very well,” Cotts said. “I think that’s the first time this year that has happened. The cutter was a little bit bigger than usual and it wasn’t close enough to get swings on it.”

It was the third blown save for the Rangers this year. They all have two things in common: Cotts has been the one to blow the lead and it’s happened on the road. In previous instances, it was Tampa Bay lefty James Loney and Boston lefty David Ortiz who got him.

On Friday, lefty Robinson Cano started the trouble and lefty Kyle Seager finished him off, but it was the three right-handers he failed to retire that complicated issues. Lefties are now 7-for-15 against Cotts this season.

Cotts entered the eighth to face Cano, who reached out and singled to start the inning. Cotts then hit right-handed hitting Corey Hart on a full-count pitch after failing to get him to chase a pair of cutters after getting ahead 0-and-1.

Stefen Romero followed with a bunt up the third base line that was bungled because catcher J.P. Arencibia collided with charging third baseman Adrian Beltre. Beltre has the priority on that ball.

All that set up the Smoak at-bat. Cotts started him out with a fastball for a strike, then missed in with another cutter. With the count 2-and-2, Cotts couldn’t get Smoak to chase a slider, which also was too far in. With the count full, Smoak doubled a sloppy fastball into the left field corner to score a pair of runs. Cotts faced on more lefty, Kyle Seager, and couldn’t get him either. Down 0-and-2, Seager was able to get a slider and loop it into left for another run.

Cotts battled some undisclosed soreness last week at home and pitched just once in eight days, but he did pitch effectively last Saturday against Chicago and again on Monday against Oakland. Manager Ron Washington said Cotts was healthy and he said he won’t shy away from using him again in a meaningful situation.

Then again, what choice does he have? Robbie Ross, the other main lefty from last year’s bullpen is now a starter. Joseph Ortiz and Pedro Figueroa are both on the DL. And Aaron Poreda, who is currently the second lefty in the bullpen, is considered more of a long reliever than a lefty specialist.

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